By Sumaila Ogbaje
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Mrs Lydia Jafiya, has urged military finance personnel to foster a culture of accountability in managing their finances, aligning with the Federal Government’s financial reforms.
Jafiya called while delivering a lecture at the Nigerian Air Force Finance Seminar 2024 yesterday in Abuja.
She delivered a lecture titled “Managing Financial Resources in the Face of Rising Contemporary Security Challenges: Federal Government Financial Reforms in Perspective.”
According to her, the financial management, procurement processes, and audit functions should also be aligned with the Federal Government’s economic reforms.
She said this would ensure that the military and security agencies have tactically proficient personnel who understand the various financial reforms in their day-to-day operations.
The permanent secretary also urged the military to place a greater emphasis on the outputs and outcomes that were expected to be delivered using the public funds it received.
She said that they must determine whether the requested resources were commensurate with the objectives to be achieved.
“The military should begin their activities using the non-kinetic method, which is less expensive and friendlier. The military, therefore, is a critical stakeholder in the Nigerian project, not just on the battlefield but in the broader context of national development and sustainability.
“Your commitment, discipline, and strategic thinking are essential as the nation strives to overcome its challenges to create prosperity for all,” she said.
Jafiya said the ongoing military operations against insecurity and terrorism across the country had continued to drain government resources, both human and financial.
She said that peace was desperately desired, adding that without peace, the nation might not have a thriving economy that meets the yearnings and aspirations of all Nigerians.
“In this respect, citizens’ security must be given its rightful place as it helps minimize crime and create the right environment for investments and growth.
“The peace-development nexus is a roadmap to progress, and it is required in defining our engagement from the military and fiscal policy perspectives. The connection between security and Public Financial Management is symbiotic.
“Without security, economic activities are stifled, revenue generation suffers, and the capacity of the nation and sub-nationals to finance its operations, including security, diminishes.
“Conversely, without sound Public Financial Management (PFM), the resources needed to address security challenges effectively cannot be mobilised.”
The permanent secretary said President Bola Tinubu’s administration introduced audacious financial reforms to promote accountability, transparency, and fiscal discipline, thus ensuring the effective delivery of goods and services to the citizenry.
She assured the NAF that the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda is willing, able, and ready to support it and other security service agencies in maintaining the nation’s sovereign integrity.
